Benjamin k



(MMM) B. K. DORWART.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

Patented Feb. 23, 1892.

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v UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

BENJAMIN K. DORIVART, OF SOOTCl-I PLAINS, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO GEORGE A. COLBY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

FOUNTAIN-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,499, dated February23, 1892.

Application filed April '7, 1891. Serial No. 387,996. (No model.)

T all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN K. DoRwART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scotch Plains, in the county of Union and State of NewJersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fountain-Pens, of which the following is a specification. The improvement relatesto the feeder which controls the fiow of the ink from the zo barrel,which is the general interior of the holder, down to thepen. Itisimportant that the ink be fed down at a sufficient rate to serve forwriting, but not too fast. It is difcult with fountain-pens to insure auniform delivery of the ink in all positions of the ink-level in thefountain or reservoir.

My invention contributes to the uniformity of delivery. I denominate asthe feeder a removable piece applying in the hollowed zo surface on theinner face of the pen extending up into the reservoir or fountain. Imake the feeder capacious and cause the ink to wet its periphery withoutfilling the central space. The upper end of the feeder is flat- 2 5tened and opened at the edges of the attened part, so that the inkobtains a restricted access to theinterior. When the fountain is full ornearly full, the head induces a pressure; but there being no inductionof air, except 3o as it comes up through the feeder, the descent isslow. It is a singular fact that many or most fountain-pens, owing tothe increased facility of inducting air or to some other cause, tend todeliver ink faster instead of 3 5 slower when they become nearly empty.In myimprovement there is a small annular space on the exterior of thefeeder at the upper end below the iiattened portion. Thelast of the inklies in that annular space, with no 4o access to the interior except asit is drawn up to the flattened and split portion by the attraction ofthe surfaces, an action akin to capillary attraction aided by themovement of the ink induced by changes of position of the pen. Onarriving at the attened and split portion of the feeder and thoroughlywetting that, the ink is certain to be delivered downward on theinterior at a sufficient rate to keep the surfaces wetted. This in- 5osures a nearly uniform supply to the pen un der all conditions.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying ont the invention.I 5 5 Figure l is a longitudinal central section on the line w w in Fig.2, and Fig. 2 is a corresponding section at right angles on the line .frno in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-'section on the line y y in Fig. l. Theremaining gures 6o show a modification. Fig. 4 is alongitudiuall sectionof a portion, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line ,e a in Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

A is the barrel, of hard rubber or other suitable material. The upperend is tightly closed.

B is a bottom piece secured by screw- 7o threads, as shown, Vextendingboth upward and downward from the lower end. Its interior may beperfectly cylindrical.

The portion which I designate the feeder, and in which the noveltyresides, is marked D, certain portions being indicated, when necessary,by supernumerals, as D. A portion of its mid-length (marked simply D) iscylindrical and adapted to t tightly in the cylindrical interior of thebottom piece B. Its 8o upper end is flattened, as indicated by D', andthe edges of the llattened portion are cut, so that what is in fact athin split d obtains between the flat surfaces with an opening at theupper end, and also extending down a con- 8 5 siderable distance eachside. This forms the provision for inducting the ink slowly into thehollow interior of the feeder. The lower end of the feeder has atapering arm D2, extending downward on the under side and ap- 9o plyingits slightly-hollowed upper face against the under side of the pen. Thejunction of this arm D2 with the body D is formed with a bend, asindicated at D3, and with an indentation on the upper side, as indicatedby D4. (See Figs. l and 3.) Y

M is the pen. It should have a thin body, having a curve incross-section coinciding with the interior of the bottom piece B. It isheld by thrusting it upward on the upper face roo of the feeder.

I have in my experiment-s made the feeder of hard rubber, giving it solittle thickness that it will yield inward by its elasticity, and thusallow the entrance of the pen between itself and the interior faceof thebottom piece B; but this may be varied. I can, when the exact size andthickness of the pen to -be used is determined, make the feeder with agreater thickness and stiffness and produce a permanent depressiontherein just sufficient to allow for the thickness of the pen. Thebarrel A may be filled from a droppei in the ohviousmanner afterinverting it and unscrewing and removing the bottom piece B and itsattached feeder. The bottom piece may be replaced again after the barrelis filled.

To adapt the pen for carrying in the pocket or otherwise the usual capis employed, as in all fountain-pens, to covei and protect theworkingend. To adapt the pen for use it is necessary simply to remove the capand holding the entire device in the ordinary position for writing theink Will be fed down at just about the proper rate. It is important touse a thin Writing-fluid. Ordinary copying-ink and other thick inks areliable by their drying to obstruct the passage.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the arm corresponding to D2is in a separate piece from the body of the tube. Such sepa- .rate pieceis extended up through the middle of the large interior of thecylindrical partD and quite u p to the flattened portion D. width ofthis tongue, which thus reaches up inside, should be sufficient toextend quite across and match pretty tightly against the The interiorofthe part D. Its lower end is bent upward, so as to lie against thepen. This form of the invention sei'vesvthe same as that which I esteemthe preferable form, (shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) except that with thisform there is less space for air in the interior of the part D. Only onehalf, the upper half of the part D, and one face, the upper face of thetongue,which is nowa partition extending up through D, is available tolead down the thin lamina of ink. Care should be taken in this form ofthe device to have the opening at the edges of the attened part of thefeeder eX- tend down somewhat into the neck or the portion which changesgradually from the fiattened to the cylindrical form. The ink iiowsinward through the approximately-triangular aperture tlins provided oneach edge of the tongue.

I claim as my invention- The fountain-pen described,having the tube A,bottom piece B, pen M, and feeder D,With itsk flattened upper end D andslit or thin space d open at the edges, as shown, and arm D2 at thelower end, adapted for feeding ink i slowly to the pen,all combi-ned andarranged for joint operation as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presl ence of two witnesses.

BENJ. K. DORVA-RT.

